I could see a rock album getting pretty tiring after a while, so I thought I'd go the other side of the spectrum and pick something that's not too intense. It's relaxing, but has enough going on that you'd appreciate different aspects of it years later I feel. All those hidden layers and what not. Maybe. I think I've already changed my mind halfway through typing this.

Brought this album when I was 14 or so and still think it's one of, if not my favourite. Just has every different sound the Cure went for on the album, more like a snapshot of them as a whole band, whereas something like Disintegration is more like a singular concept album with just really bleak stuff (except Lovesong).

But on this one you get their best single (Just Like Heaven), slow watering grave sounding Cure songs (The Kiss, Snakepit), ballads (Perfect Girl, Catch), long instrumental parts to the songs (Icing sugar, Hey you).

In a nutshell, it's everything I ever liked about the band all put into one place. So fits the one album route well and covers as many bases as you ever could with 1 vinyl/tape/cd.

to go for something long, dense, obscure and interesting but that would probably just get really annoying and in reality I'd regret it. I'd have to go for something dull like a Beatles best-of, the blue album probably. It has loads of great songs and spans lots of different moods and emotions so could be dragged out at any time.

How would this actually work in reality, would it be a case that you can only sit down and put this record on? Or would all music be dead and the radio would just play your chosen LP, and lift music would be replaced with it, and cheesy wedding disco music also would be gone etc?

1. It's a triple album, duh
2. It's one of my favourite albums
3. It's one of those records that is incredibly densely layered; even on the 50th listen you're discerning musical elements or turns of phrase that you never noticed before

- it's ucking fawesome
- memories
- inclusion of the best of their previously released tracks ensures i needn't feel too guilty about the loss of their other music
- it's a good hour
- i have never once in my life got bored of anything on this album

- they sell this and The Letters EP in the same package now, can i keep that as well?

but you yourself could only put this record, or songs from it, on at anytime. So you'll walk into M&S's and still hear Adele blaring over the speakers, but you have no control over the choice of music you put on yourself. You also can't ask others to put on certain records for you. No loopholes here, this is an airtight scenario.

I've already had ten years of listening to it in every situation possible and it works, so don't see that changing. It's been year 8 homework accompaniment, pre-night out soundtrack and used after break-ups. Timeless and place-less.

Post-punk, rock, proggy elements - just an immense album. Lyrically it chimes with me, or at least even though it connected with me more before, I can see the kind of life he must have been living while writing it and it seems an authentic reaction to existing in this day and age.

Anybody who thinks they'll still like The Beatles or the blue album after ten years of listening to nothing else is kidding themselves. Even three albums of Joanna Newsom is going to pall eventually. The OP has the right idea: something you can either listen to as music, or just experience as a sort of abstract sonic environment. Eno is a bit too pretty & melodic for me (even On Land), and I'd probably go for something with a bit more variety. Nice field recordings & heavy drone. I'm sure there's something that fits the bill, I just can't bring it to mind right now. Anyway, no songs, that's for sure.

Just to immerse myself in completely once every few months when i want my mind blown, before returning to the void.

Slightly agree with Blisters' point that literally no album could really satisfy in such conditions, I elected Sufjan mainly out of recognition that i'd be okay not listening to it very often. In that case I really can't imagine ever tiring of this piece of music.. instant equanimity:

Because it's my favourite album ever and I don't care what you think. From the peak of my own self importance as a 20 year old student to my current divorced-with-kids mid life crises it's been a constant source of pleasure.